All superintendents should be appointed

There is no question that major reform is needed to improve Mississippi's public schools. Unfortunately, the House voted down a Senate bill this week that could have made sure the best of the best are leading the state's schools.

Senate Bill 2199 - designed to lead to more appointed superintendents around Mississippi - lost on a 65-52 vote Monday.

For years now, the issue of appointed superintendents has drawn a passionate response from both sides.

This year was no exception.

"Quit trying to take the right of the people away in this bill," Rep. Forrest Hamilton, R-Olive Branch, said Monday, while waving a flag and a Bible as he strode to the podium.

"This is just a little bit of the noose around your neck. If they take my right away today, they're going to take something away from you tomorrow."

Hamilton represents DeSoto County - home to the state's largest school district and an elected superintendent.

On the other side of the issue, Rep. Brad Mayo, R-Oxford, argued that many counties are too small to have a field of qualified superintendent candidates.

He claimed - although it was disputed by other representatives -that districts with elected superintendents were more likely to be poorly rated.

We agree with Mayo, at least about the qualified candidates part. We haven't seen any stats to back his other claim.

In the Pine Belt, we are fortunate to have highly qualified, highly effective superintendents in Ben Burnett at Lamar County School District and Brian Freeman at Forrest County School District. Both men should be commended for the jobs they have done at their districts.

But what if we weren't so lucky?

What if the best candidate didn't live in the area? Or what if the best candidate didn't want to run in an election? (Campaigning isn't for everyone.)

And, like Mayo said, there is the very real possibility that Mississippi's smaller counties might not have the best and the brightest from which to choose.

Our children deserve the best when it comes to education.

By continuing to elect superintendents in some districts, there is no way to guarantee that will happen.